Why The Cartoons Weren't Worth It

I've been conflicted over the last couple of days. I've got no problem with people producing art or commentary that others might find offensive. I do have a problem with responsible media publishing something they know can cause mayhem. I hold the NYT to a higher standard than South Park. I hold myself to a higher standard than the average freeper. I hold John Danforth to a higher standard than Pat Robertson. Knowing when not to speak, when to restrain oneself is every bit as important as knowing when to speak out.

Just because one can say something doesn't mean one should. The results of publishing the cartoon were pretty forseeable. Was it worth it? Not to me it wasn't, and I do believe the best response to bad speech is more speech, so of course, I find the violence and threats issuing from some quarters of the Muslim world, inexcusable.

Just my opinion.

because they've been proven totally correct.

JESUS toting an ak-47,its just a picture. Now if they were torturing cats and dogs then I'd be upset and begin my keyboard assult..

should not have published the information about the alleged abuses of the Koran, then?

That sounds like a pissy question..it isn't. I'm wondering.

It is a complex issue with no one solution.

it's perfectly reasonable. I have zero problem with Newsweek having published that story, as long as they had a reasonable belief that it was true. I see the two issues as apples and oranges.

the papers that published these cartoons (and the host of blogs, including DU) were doing so to illustrate a news story?

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you didn't address anything I wrote. If you can do that I'd be glad to discuss it with you.

So, when European papers start publishing deliberately offensive cartoons of the Prophet it is a lot like KKK sympathezing rags in Nose Pick, South Carolina doing a cartoon of Aunt Jemimah. Especially when you consider that many countries in Europe do not have our free speech guarantees. Over there, it is perfectly alright to sue someone because they hurt your feelings or censor something because it might hurt someone's feelings. So, when they start blaspheming the Prophet and telling muslims to "suck it up" it tells you how low on the totem pole muslims are in Europe.


I dont think Americans, with out "melting pot, we love you no matter where you come from as long as you get a job and fulfill an economic need and we REALLY love you if you proudly display your native religion because freedom of religion is what we are all about attitude" can quite comprehend the tremendous xenophobia of many parts of Europe where there is this tremendous pressure for immigrants to fit in. Fine, if you are asian and predisposed to fit in. Not so fine if you are muslim.

In short, I think those cartoons are just the latest manefestation of a cultural tradition that brought us the hook nosed vampires of Nazi Germany.


PS Certain Neo-cons think that muslims are too uncivilized to be allowed to exist in the modern world and want them exterminated.

in their criticism of religious extremists using violence to push their wacked out agenda.

If not, the cartoonist did not do a very good job.

I could do a political cartoon designed for Catholics which is supposed to demonstrate the comercialization of Christianity in which I show the Virgin of Guadualupe dressed in crotchless panties, a garter belt and pasties giving a blow job to the CEO of a major corporation. I wonder how they would respond to that message. Would be start a thread about how unreasonable the Catholics are if they did not learn from my message? It isn't actually a sin to dress the Virgin as a whore, it is just an implied on.


As an artist, would I be entitled to say that the fault lies with the people who do not "get" my message or with me who failed to realize that I was not framing my message in a form that would be understood?

the cartoon is just making a statement. Art does that as well. These extremists whether they be Muslim, Christian or Jewish need to be marginalized before the world is destroyed in the process.

and informative response.

However, as stupid as the Aunt Jemima cartoon would be, it would invoke protests, perhaps, boycotts, but not threats of death on the level (I don't think) that we are seeing now. However, never having traveled in that part of the world and having no real level of experience with that culture, I would also think (from my reading, TV news, etc.) that their response is not uncommon for that culture, which seems to me to respond in a rather over-the-top manner (to my British background, that is.)

I have been fascinated by the issue of Muslim immigration in Europe because of Jewish family in Germany. These folks feel very threatened by Muslims of all stripes. We can call that racism, but I won't judge as I didn't lose most of my family in the camps. (these are inlaws) I guess that would make me a bit knee jerk as well.

The whole thing is just a damned mess full of people attempting to force people to believe or not believe and I don't like the roots I see developing in this country, although given the cultural context I don't think we'd ever quite reach the Taliban level. But I'm not even happy with a retro 50's lifestyle.

I agree it is stupid and uncouth to rub a man's face into his faith...but bottom line, if we are all going to get along we have to learn to ignore the stupid things people write and say. If we outlaw cartoons about Mohammed, we're doomed then to listen to the right demand equal "respect."

will have something to hate besides the royals, i.e so they wont get fed up at having a royal family and kick them out. Western colonialists use Israel so that arabs will direct the anger they should feel towards CEOs towards the wrong people (but someone got wise and bombed the World Trade Centers, funny how that happened). The Neo-cons who claim to ADORE Israel are using Israel to make muslims look like beserkers who must be exterminated so that white people can take over the middle eastern oil fields (after Israel's safety is secured).

I feel sorry for Israel where people are just trying to live their lives.

situation, you are right on.

is not tolerate in Europe. The moment a group identifies something as unacceptable that is usually enough to get it shelved. But in this case, it seems as if newspapers accelerated their publishing of the picture, almost like fanning the flames.

I think there is a reason that muslims in Europe feel down trodden. I think it is because people in Europe are treating them like crap. Just a hunch.

are as "pearls cast before swine." (NO, IM NOT CALLING ANYONE SWINE! IT'S "JUST" A "FIGURE OF +FREE+ SPEECH!!!" :evilgrin:)
Reading the first 3 responses to the OP just made me cry. Context is everything.

The ignorance and intolerance I've seen displayed here the past couple of days are disheartening.

Like Hindus? Why is that no one is afraid of them? Or Buddhists or Sikhs?